Description TATSUKE TAKAHIRO: A FINE LACQUER SUZURIBAKO (WRITING SET)
By Tatsuke Takahiro, signed Tatsuke-shi Takahiro with seal Tatsuke
Japan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
The suzuribako (writing set) decorated on the cover with a charming image of five puppies executed in various lacquer techniques below togidashi-e flowers, all against a roiro ground. The design is likely inspired by drawings of puppies by the artist’s contemporary Maruyama Okyo (1733-1795). The inside of the lid is lacquered in fine gold nashiji below takamaki-e and hiramaki-e of various colors depicting a basin with rockwork and a bonsai tree, a bird perched on the edge. The inside shows further dense nashiji, some leafy bamboo within a removable tray, and the original signed inkstone and the gilt brass suiteki (water dropper) in the shape of a preening duck, both inset into a further removable structure. Signed to the inside of the cover on the rim Tatsuke-shi, TAKAHIRO and sealed Tatsuke [Tatsuke Takahiro, Tatsuke family, with seal Tatsuke].
Two of the artist’s lacquer works (one suzuribako with samurai Kikuchi Taketoki, and one bunko box with phoenix and figures) were in the Choshunkaku collection which was assembled by a Zaibatsu industrialist, a member of the House of Peers (Kizoku-in), Baron Kawasaki Shozo (1837-1912).
SIZE 23.4 x 21.3 x 4.5 cm
Condition: The lid with some restoration to the edges, the exterior with some wear to lacquer, and the underside with surface scratches.
Provenance: British private collection.
Auction comparison:
Another suzuribako by this rare artist was sold at Christie’s, Asobi: Ingenious Creativity, Japanese Works of Art from Antiquity to Contemporary, 15 October 2014, London, lot 67 (
sold for 23,750 GBP).